YES Reading offers underprivileged children tutoring

posted October 1, 2007

by Cassie Wedemeyer of Campanile

Julia Benton

A volunteer tutors a student at YES Reading in Menlo Park. Founded in 1999 by three women who committed themselves to improving children's literacy and life opportunities, the program offers reading lessons to underprivileged children.

A literacy report issued by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) stated that one in four children in America will grow up not knowing how to read. In addition, one out of twenty adults is illiterate. But the YES Reading Program is doing something about it.

YES Reading is specifically targeted to help underprivileged children who may not have the opportunity to get the extra reading help they need in school.

"We wanted to make a difference in our community and the lives of children," said Jean Bacigalupi, one of the founders of YES Reading. "YES Reading is seeing our dream come true."

YES Reading was founded in 1999 when Molly McCrory, Mary Wright Shaw and Bacigalupi, three women committed to "improving children's literacy and life opportunities," decided to open the first YES Reading site at Belle Haven Elementary School in Menlo Park.

Since then, Belle Haven Elementary School, with the support of multiple agencies and school partners, has been tutoring children who have difficulty reading. Currently 330 students attend the reading centers at multiple YES Reading sites in the Bay Area. Most children who attend Belle Haven are from East Palo Alto and Menlo Park. Each child is paired with a tutor for two 45 minute sessions a week to work on his or her reading skills.

"The students thrive in one-on-one settings where they receive instruction twice a week," Belle Haven Program Director Tyler Abe said. "The students feel safe making mistakes because they are not intimidated by their peers' reactions. When they come to YES Reading, they are enthusiastic because they are reading books at their level of understanding."

Abe, a former teacher, has enjoyed her new role as site director in Menlo Park since she switched positions this past summer.

"Being a part of a literacy intervention program has allowed me to work with students who need the most support in strengthening their reading skills," Abe said.

The student tutors have a major impact on how Belle Haven is run. Junior Sai Boddupalli has been volunteering at Belle Haven for almost a year, and knows how his help benefits the students.

"I feel connected to these kids," Boddupalli said. "They really appreciate what I'm doing for them."

Not only does the program help kids gain social and reading skills, but tutors also gain from the program.

"It feels really good knowing that these kids are getting the extra motivation that they wouldn't have otherwise," Boddupalli said. "Nothing's really as great as seeing how much a kid has improved during the course of the year. It's amazing to see how much a person can develop."

All tutors receive reports at the end of the year that show students' improvement.

"The tutors are an asset to YES Reading." Abe said. "They represent diverse professional backgrounds and bring many experiences and insights to their students."

While many teachers, tutors and students are involved at YES Reading in Menlo Park, they constantly look for more volunteers.

"It's definitely important for high school students to take advantage of the opportunities YES Reading presents," Boddupalli said. "It really builds leadership because you need to know what to do with a kid for the 45 minutes you have with them and how to teach them effectively. YES Reading is based on volunteers, so obviously the more kids who do it, the better it is for the program and the kids who need help."

Students interested in volunteering at YES Reading volunteer for 45 minute sessions with each student they tutor.

Those who volunteer weekly work with the same students each week. Hours are flexible for tutors and work around tutors' schedules.

"It's great to have YES Reading because they help you to advance your reading," a second grader at YES Reading said. "And then you can do or be anything."